Socialist Standard Past & Present Blog

A mensch is a someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. The key to being "a real mensch" is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, decorous. (Rosten, Leo. 1968. The Joys of Yiddish. New York: Pocket Books.

"From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs".

Sorry mate, you missed my "hashtag sarcasm: bit underneath. No one on the Forum came forward with a suggested year. (and I'm no longer in NYC, btw).

Thankfully, people have stepped up to a similar type request on Facebook and, by giving me a year to work with, it has meant that I don't dilly dally over what article or review to pick - and thus waste time. Since I've went down the road of being given a year, and doing an article or review from each month from that given year, my output has increased significantly.

It's made it easier my end, and I've also been able to stumble across articles, reviews and writers that I might not have ordinarily noticed otherwise.

This time round it's 1987. A year which brings forth memories of not revising for my 'O' Levels - and it showed in my grades - buying Marxism Today at my local newsagent, where three years before it would have been Smash Hits in my school bag, and being underwhelmed with the Young Ones follow up, 'Filthy Rich & Catflap'.

Another year up and running. This time Bing Crosby was THE draw at the box office; Italo Calvino published a book of his that I've actually read; and Celtic finished below Partick Thistle in the league.